72 Crossover differences

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shaka1976

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Ok I've bought a part finished 72 Crossover Danbury.

Now what I want to know is what parts are generally early, which are late and of course those extra special one year only?

I know the basics ie lights and suspension but what about doors, trim, catches, gauges etc

Thanks

Shak
 
Hello Shak. Welcome from a fellow Crossover Danbury owner! :D

Things that spring to mind:

'Early bay': Round bumpers, low front indicators, large VW emblem on front, Volkswagen script on rear hatch, sliding door (handle and mechanism etc), fuel filler flap (although moved further back to clear sliding door this year), instruments, indicator stalk, brake fluid resevoir above kick panel, cab door 'furniture' such as window winder, lock and release levers (chrome), dash heater controls (two red, two blue), grey wiper arms.

'Late bay': Fresh air vents in cab doors, front wheel arches, rear lights, rear vents, Type 4 engines and the modified engine bay and revised engine hatch. Pretty much as you would already know.

It's difficult to specify what was one year only, as some parts were carried over from the earlies and others continued into the lates, ie rear wheel arch profile slightly changed from the '71 model year, and the early style sliding door stayed until the '73 model year etc. I believe some parts to do with the braking system were specific to the crossovers. Others I know of are the front arches, whilst appearing the same as late ones, are slightly different, I assume to take the bumper with step. The rear bumper is crossover specific in that its mounting brackets are different.

I've just mentioned some of the more obvious things, most of which I have discovered myself, having been brought up with a Danbury crossover in the family, but having owned lates, and then recently having renewed my aquaintence with the Danbury crossover by buying the one I have now! :D

There are obviously loads of other detail diferences, some of which I'm sure others will add!

I hope you'll pop some pics up of your bus for us? 8)

Doug
 
The linkage inside of the rear drum brakes is specific to crossovers and i think the shoes are as well.
The stub axles (or something like that) at the front are as well.

I must admit my rear brakes are now 73 onwards as the linkage was improved :oops:
 
The crossover front doors had the vents but not the lock button at the top like the lates, the front wheel arches had the early step but the arch was flared and obviously all of the above.

Some unique features include a one off engine lid only seen on early crossovers and the Deluxe beltline trim on crossers differed in as much as it came to a point at the front instead of finishing at the edge of the door. This is because pre 72 an aditional piece of beltline trim was available for the front panel as an extra (rare) which carried on from the doors to make a continuous trim. This was dropped for the crossover hence the point.

The crossovers though available with the type4 engine never had the removable rear valance of the earlier busses or the access hatch above of the late bays though I think some of the very later crossovers did have the hatch.
 
The gear selector linkage has an extra piece on the end.
they have the early dash top and heater/blower pipes
 
wibbler said:
The crossover front doors had the vents but not the lock button at the top like the lates, the front wheel arches had the early step but the arch was flared and obviously all of the above.

Some unique features include a one off engine lid only seen on early crossovers and the Deluxe beltline trim on crossers differed in as much as it came to a point at the front instead of finishing at the edge of the door. This is because pre 72 an aditional piece of beltline trim was available for the front panel as an extra (rare) which carried on from the doors to make a continuous trim. This was dropped for the crossover hence the point.

The crossovers though available with the type4 engine never had the removable rear valance of the earlier busses or the access hatch above of the late bays though I think some of the very later crossovers did have the hatch.

I'm not aware of any crossovers having the access hatch above, but I could be wrong. No removable valance like you say.
The pop-up locks, for those who don't know, interestingly were used on the first model year bays, and then dropped until being re-introduced from the '74 model year (or later in the '73 model year) onwards.

I'd forgotten about the difference in the engine lids. I think the difference was the 'lip' or whatever you call it (houses the numberplate lamp) above the numberplate was later extended slightly further to each side if I remember correctly? :)
 
Mines a late early believe 23rd July 72. Does that make me an late early or a early late :D . I dont have an cutout in the enging comp. I have wrap around bumpers and high indicators up front.

One year only calipers, (which i have a spare set in the garage).
Big rear light with large air intakes.

As a german once told me that VW didnt waste nought they used up all of the bits lying around. Very late earlys hade wrap around bumpers up front and newer style at the rear.

That what makes us crossers special we are all different.
 
Danbury Doug said:
rustydiver said:
That what makes us crossers special we are all different.

We're the mongrels of the bay world! :lol:

If we were a cross between earlies and lates then I would except mongrel but we came before lates were introduced so I prefer the word 'mutant' :mrgreen:
 
wibbler said:
Danbury Doug said:
rustydiver said:
If we were a cross between earlies and lates then I would except mongrel but we came before lates were introduced so I prefer the word 'mutant' :mrgreen:

True! :lol: I tend to go with 'late early' (as Rustydiver says about his one). Afterall, we're more early than late! :mrgreen:
 
I have wrap around bumpers and high indicators up front.
Did not know VW did high lights from the factory. High lights replacing low lights front panels are more common with body repairs. AB Crossover information very useful for rebuilding my 1972 T2 Kombi (SO 72/2) 'Westfalia - Los Angeles." Thanks all 🍺
 
Did not know VW did high lights from the factory. High lights replacing low lights front panels are more common with body repairs. AB Crossover information very useful for rebuilding my 1972 T2 Kombi (SO 72/2) 'Westfalia - Los Angeles." Thanks all 🍺
I’d agree. I’d say if it’s a genuine 72MY with high indicators then it’s had a new front panel.
 
Hello Shak. Welcome from a fellow Crossover Danbury owner! :D

Things that spring to mind:

'Early bay': Round bumpers, low front indicators, large VW emblem on front, Volkswagen script on rear hatch, sliding door (handle and mechanism etc), fuel filler flap (although moved further back to clear sliding door this year), instruments, indicator stalk, brake fluid resevoir above kick panel, cab door 'furniture' such as window winder, lock and release levers (chrome), dash heater controls (two red, two blue), grey wiper arms.

'Late bay': Fresh air vents in cab doors, front wheel arches, rear lights, rear vents, Type 4 engines and the modified engine bay and revised engine hatch. Pretty much as you would already know.

It's difficult to specify what was one year only, as some parts were carried over from the earlies and others continued into the lates, ie rear wheel arch profile slightly changed from the '71 model year, and the early style sliding door stayed until the '73 model year etc. I believe some parts to do with the braking system were specific to the crossovers. Others I know of are the front arches, whilst appearing the same as late ones, are slightly different, I assume to take the bumper with step. The rear bumper is crossover specific in that its mounting brackets are different.

I've just mentioned some of the more obvious things, most of which I have discovered myself, having been brought up with a Danbury crossover in the family, but having owned lates, and then recently having renewed my aquaintence with the Danbury crossover by buying the one I have now! :D

There are obviously loads of other detail diferences, some of which I'm sure others will add!

I hope you'll pop some pics up of your bus for us? 8)

Doug
It would also depend where the bus was built for. Mine was exported to Boston USA so as a crossover, low lights on the front, late rear lights, no inspection hatch and a Type 4 engine.
 

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